Igniter for acetylene lamps



March 24, 1925. 1,531,003

A.L. HANSEN IGNITER FOR ACETYLENE LAMPS Filed Dec. 21. 1922 PatentedMar. 24, 1925.

sures PATENT OFFICE,

AUGIE L. .HANSEN, 10F EVANSTQN, ILLINOIS.

- emma m Marx-mm LAMBS- lippiication filed pecember 21, 192?. Serial No.605,234.

lamps and the like.

U The object of the invention is to provide van improved igniting deviceembodying features calculated to prolong the period of operation withoutrenewal of materials, and capable of being operated with greater ceranneFurther objects will be made manifest from the description of'apreferred embodiment of the invention as (jlisclosed in the a cemp y s daw n s; in Wjh h.

Fig. l is a view in front elevation of a lamp with the improved ignitapplied h r o, I

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the lamp and igniter, and

r Fig. 3 is'a t P Plan Vi w of the lamp with the reflector, burner, andigniter parts shown in section, as taken online3, 3 .of Fig. 2.

The lamp proper, which need not be described in detail, is typical ofthe small acetylene ,miners lamp, consisting in general of a lamp bodyl, a carbide container 2, an open burner 3, and 1a reflector {lsurrounding the burner. The burner extends outwardly ,from the side ofthe lamp body and is set within a depression or cavity a at the centerof the reflector.

Fixed to the lamp body is a ,U-shaped band or strap 5 surrounding therear half .of the lamp; and extending forwardly in the form of arms 5, 5which in turn are bifurcated .to provide pairs of fingers 5P, 5*, whichgrip the periphery of, the reflector at opposite .sideslthefreof! Formedintegral with, or otherwise secimed to the strap 5, at it rear port on ae the lamp upp rting members, as well as a hinged cap for the fillingopening in the top of the lamp body. The ignition device'is located atone side of the burner' 3 and consists of parts supported on thereflector and immediately behind the reflector. As in most ignitiondevices of this character the ignition is effected by the throwing ofsparks into the jet of gas issuing from the burner, said sparks beingproduced by therapid contact of a metallic sparking element with a massof pyrophoric substance.

In its present application, the combination of spark producing elementshave the form of a fixed pyrophoric element 6 and an endwise movabledisc 7 mounted upon a stem 8 extending radially outward to a point vadjacent the periphery of the reflector. tainty, and in a simpler andmore posit ve The pyrophoric element is mounted at the inner and freeend of a radial arm 9 fixed 7 to the periphery of the reflector by meansof a screw 10, said inner end having a rearwardly facing cavity ordepression 9 in which the element 6 is retained. As clearly I shown inFig. 3, the arm 9 stands away from the surface of the reflector and, byreason of its mounting, is slightly resilient. Immediately behind. orrearwai dly of the pyrophoric element an aperture 11 is cut or formed inthe reflector throughwhich extends the sparking disci bearing edgewiseagainst the surface of saidvpyrophoric element ,6. Asapreferableconstruction the central cavity 4* is surrounded by a bead 12which is extended radially on either side of the aperture 11 in thereflector, as at 12*, 12*. This feature, however, is not essential tothe results to be attained.

The sparking disc 7 is preferably beveled at its periphery for thepurpose of presenton ing a sharpened edge for contact with thepyrophoric element 6. Innnediately adjacent the disc 7 is a cylindricportion 13, somewhat less in diameter than the disc but of greaterdiameter than the stem '8. This ,pcylindric portion 13 serves primarilyas a bearing and guide for the disc in its movement in contact with thepyrophoric element, as will best be understood from the es ons .withinthe somewhat triangular shaped space included between the reflector, thelamp body, and the reflector supporting arm 5 is a Ll-shaped supportingframe 14; consisting of inner and outer parallel arms 14 and 14:extending generally at right angles to the reflector, and anintermediate portion 14 lying against the reflector and having at itsouter end a lip 15 extending to the periphery and secured in placebymeans' of the screw 10. I

In the inner arm 14 of the supporting frame 14 is a round ,hole 16 inwhich the cylinder portion 13 of the stem slides. In

' the outer arm 14 isa slot 17 elongated longitudinally, through whichthe stem 8 eX- tends, passing likewise between the fingers 5 of the arm5 and terminating a short dis tance outwardly beyond the periphery ofthe reflector. Surrounding the stem 8 and located between the parallelarms 14: and 14 of the supporting frame 14: is a coil spring 18 hearingat its inner end against the cylindric portion 13, and at its outer endagainst the arm 14";

Mounted exterior of the [reflector supporting arm 5" is the operatinglever or trigger 19, preferably mounted upon the reflector supportingarm 5 and pivoted at its inner end by inserting an angularly bent ear 19through slots formed in said arm 5 and the adjacent arm of thesupporting frame 14:. Intermediate the ends of the lever is a slot 20located in axial alinement with the stem 8 and through which the latterextends. A knurled head 21 is mounted at the extremity of the stem 8.The free end of the lever terminates beyond and forwardly of theperiphery ofthe reflector in the form of a curved finger piece 22;

In operating the igniting device it israssumed that a quantity of gas isbeing generated and is escaping through the orifice in,

idly over the end of the lever, so that when released the spring acts tothrowthe disc 7 forwardly over the surface of the pyrophoric elementwith a scraping or striking contact. The sparks thus produced are thrownforwardly toward and into the path of gas,

thus igniting the burner,

The simplicity of action is a desirable feature since it requires nomore effort than the striking of a match, hence can be readily used bythe most inexperienced workman without the necessity of instruction astov the proper method of ignition. In this respect an advance has beenmade overthe forms of i'gmtors in which-palming oi the reflector isrecommended in order to trap a qpantity of gas around the burner.

1 further feature emphasized at the out-- set was the dependability andlasting qualities of the elements, these features being best describedby use of the terms sure-firing and long life. Manifestly, Lthepyrophoric substance must be removed from time to time, but this can beeasily accomplished by replacing the arm 9 with a new one, or merelyinserting a fresh block of the pyrophoric-substance 6 in place of theexhausted one.

It is to'be notedthat the quantity of the spark produced is largely.dependent upon the sharpness of the beveled edge of the disc 7. Thiscondition is assured for a considerable length of time, first, by.employing a disc, and second, by mounting the disc so that'it may berotated about its axis, thus a new portion of the edge may be presentedby rotating the stem 8 from time to time by means of its head 21., Theinherent resiliency of the arm 9'supporting the pyrophoric elementaffords the necessary yielding contact between the spark-producingelements to insure certainty of action. 7 v j Having set forththeadvantages ofthe device, its construction, and uses, I claim as myinvention I t 1. 'An ignition device for lamps having a burner and aconcave reflector, an arm extending in frontof the reflector andterminating at its free end adj acentfsaid'burner,

a pyrophoric element supported at the free endof said arm, a sparkingelement extending behind said, reflector and projecting therethroughadjacent said burner and positioned to contact with said pyrophoricelement, a spring acting to actuate said sparking element and a sparkproducing contact with said pyrophoric 'element, and means at theside ofsaid reflector for retracting said sparking element.

2; An ignitionrlevice for lamps having a burner and a concave'reflector,an arm secured in front of the reflector and terminating at its free endadjacent said burner, a pyrophoric element supported at the free end ofsaid arm, a sparking element extending behind said reflector andprojecting therethrough adjacent saidburner and positioned to contactwith said pyrophoric element, a spring acting to actuate said sparkingelement and a spark producing contact with said pyrophoric element, andan actuating member pivotally secured rearwardly .Of said reflector andextending forwardly beyond the same for retracting'said sparkingelement. f

3. Ajnjignition device for lamps havin a burner and a concave reflectorprovidedwlth a recess' therein adjacent said burner,- an secured infront of the reflector and terminating; at its free and over saidrecess,"

a pyrophoric element movablj supported at the free end of said arm, asparking element movably mounted in said recess and positioned toContact with said pyrophoi'ic elemerit, tension means behind saidreflector for actuating said sparking element in its spark producingmovement, and means extending rorwardly at one side or said reflectorfor manually retracting and releasing said sparking element against thetension of said spring.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 8th day ofDecember, A. 1).,

AUGIE L. HANSEN.

